Villa Group’s Managing Director and Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim’s son Ibrahim Siyad Qasim’s trial on bribery charges is set to begin on Sunday.

The trial is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Siyad was arrested under the State of Emergency on February 7, citing an investigating being carried out by the police.

Siyad was charged with offering bribes and ordered to be kept in detention pending the outcome of his trial by Criminal Court on March 21.

With the court’s order to keep him detained till the end of his trial, Siyad was transferred to Maafushi Prison from Dhoonidhoo detention centre.

Many accuse that Siyad, who had never taken part in politics, was arrested as revenge as the government is unable to arrest his father Qasim Ibrahim. Others had called for his immediate release, saying that he was arrested on a baseless allegation.

Upon Siyad’s arrest, Qasim said although his beloved son is imprisoned in a cell, he believes state institutions would treat him with justness and humanity.

Qasim also said that it would be easier for him to be imprisoned than to see his son behind bars. Qasim had also denied the allegations against Siyad.